Of chicago



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,378

v. BENDlx LEVER Filed Sept. 15. 1926 4 54 4%' 74 :fr/6.2 a+,

INVENTOR VlNcBgNT BENDIX ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT BENDIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENDIX BRAKE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

LEVER.

Application filed September 15, 1926.

rlhis invention relates to levers, especially of the type used for parts ot' the operating connections for automobile brakes, and is illustrated as embodied in a novel level` formed and mounted for operation to apply a brake on the swivelled front wheel ot an automobile. An object of the invention is to provide a novel construction suitable for forming a strong lever which can be made as a stamping.

Preferably the stamping forming the lever is arranged to have a pivot bearing between its ends, so that, its outer end swings in an arc over the kingpin of the wheel, and the outer end is formed with a thrust portion of lcircular arcuate horizontal outline projecting laterally from the lever so that an operating device which swivels with the wheel may turn on the arcuate outline witliout interfering with the swivelling of the wheel. It greater strength desired, the lever may be made of two such stainpings fastened back to back so thaty each one reinforces the other. I preft'er to forni the Stampings with edge flanges which not only finish and reinforce the levers but which also serve to form cylindrical thrust flanges extending around the arcuate thrust part of the lever.

Another feature of the invention relates to twisting the opposite end of the lever into a plane at right angles with the top ot the lever to facilitate its connection to brakeoperating means. In the arrangement illustrated this twisted portion of the lever is lished to forni a lielnisplicrical socket to forni part of a ball and socket joint attaching the lever to the brake-applying connection.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will bey apparent-'from the following description o1 one illustrative embodiment shown in the accoinlninying drawing. in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one front brake and through associate/i parts:

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the novel brakeapplying lever:

Figure 3 is a section through the thrust end oll the lever on the line Clef-I ot' Figure Figure 4 is a section through the pivot bearing formed on the lever on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 a section on the line :3---5 o Serial No. 135,538.

Figure 2 showing the dislied end of the lever; and

Figures (i, 7, and 8 are views corresponding respectively to Figures 3, 4, and 5 but showing a modified form ot' lever built up of two stampings permanently secured back to back.

In the arrangement illustrated, the brake includes a drum 10 rotating with the wheel, the hub of which is shown at 12 and which is 'arried by a knuckle 14 swivelled by a kingpin or the like at one end of an axle 16. The axle 16, with a rear axle (not shown). serves through the medium of the usual springs 18 to support the chassis frame 2o. lVitliin the drinn l() is arranged a suitable brake Q2 which may, if desired, be substantially as fully described iii Patent No. 1,567,716, granted Bendix Brake Company December 29, 1925, on an application tiled by A. Y. Dodge.

The brake may be applied by suitable means siicli as a double cam 24 having a short shat't 26 journalled in a bearing 28 carried by the backing plate 30 of the brake, and operated by means such as a crank arm 32 having a flattened end engaged by the thrust portion of the novel lever 34 which forms the subject-matter of the present invention.

The novel lever 34 is shown in rear elevat'oii iii Figure 1 and iii top plan in Figure i2, and three sections through the lever are shown in Figures 3, 4, and The lever is formed with an integral bushing or cylindrical tiange 3G which serves as a bearing for a pivot 3H which mounts the lever on a l'ulcrum to shown as a boss pro- ]ecting troni they axle 15. The pivot 3H is so arranged that the outer end ot' the lever swings in an arc substantiallv intersecting the swivelliiig axis of the wheel. The outer end of the lever is formed as a torwardlv projecting thrust portion 42 of' circularlv arcuate outline having its center -lfl substantially in the swivelling axis ot the wheel, or immediately adjacent that axis. when the brake is applied. Thus the flattened end of the crank arm 32 may roll around on the ircinar arc forming the edge ot the thrust portion l2 without interfering' with the swivellirig ot the wheel. The outer end of the lever is inclined upwardly from the pivot. llt-firing .to at an acute angle to the thrust portion 42, while the other or inner end of ltlt) the lever is inclined downwardly from the pivot bearingr 3G at an acute angle so that the lever substantially parallels the outer end of the axle 16 and terminates immediately adjacent the spring 18 just above the axle 16. I prefer to twist the eXtreme end of the inner part ot the lever to form a portion 4G in a plane substantially perpendicular to the body of the lever and which is preferably dished at 4S to form a semispherical socket to receive a ball on the end of a tension member 5() extending through an opening 52 in the base of the socket.

As shown in Figures 6, T, and 8, if it is desired to increase the strength of the lever, two stampings may be provided and spotwelded or otherwise secured back to back to form one unitary structure. l prefer to form each of the stampings as a channelshaped member to provide edge flanges 54 extending;r entirely around the stampings and serving not only to sti'en the stalnpings but also serving where they pass around the thrust portion 42 as cylindrical bearing surfaces engaging the attened end of the crank arm 32.

While two illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention t0 these part'zeular embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

A brake-applying lever comprising a substantially flat stamping having a pivot bearin; r between its ends and formed at one end with a thrust portion, the opposite end of the stamping being: twisted to a plane at right angles to the body of the lever and dished to forni a semi-spherical socket adapted to form part of a ball-and-soeket joint for attachment to operating Connections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

VINCENT BEDIX. 

